Kidney transplants have been performed at the Elisabethinen Sisters of Mercy Hospital in Linz for 50 years. Approximately 60 operations are performed annually. The need would be considerably higher, but there is a lack of suitable donor kidneys.
“The donor kidney saved my life,” says Rudolf Brettbacher (64) from Linz gratefully. “Before, I was getting worse every year, and my perspective and zest for life continued to decline. I celebrate my kidney birthday every year!”
Big question
Approximately 60 kidneys are implanted at the Linz Order Hospital every year. However, the demand for donor organs is considerably higher: “We always have between 120 and 140 patients on our waiting list who need a donor kidney,” says Daniel Cejka, head of the Department of Nephrology and Transplant Medicine. “We could transplant more, but the number of donor organs is very limited.”
Too few donors
There are currently only about 18 organ donors per million people, dead or alive, who are fit for transplant. And this despite the objection rule, according to which every citizen is eligible for donations unless he or she refuses in writing. According to the doctors and experts at the order hospital, approximately 30 donors per million would be optimal.
Long waiting lists
Patients in need have to wait about three to four years. This waiting time can be bridged with dialysis, but the quality of life and expectations are significantly higher with a donated organ, especially because dialysis patients require treatment for four hours three times a week. Planned living donations only account for about a quarter of all transplants; the rest is due to post-mortem removals.
Clock starts ticking after removal
This is a logistical challenge: “Only about 20 hours should pass between removal and transplantation, four of which are for an examination and about two and a half hours for implantation,” explains transplant coordinator Tamara Holzinger-Hammer: “The transport also takes time depending on the situation Origin a few hours.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
